NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

I.2. Number of students
In 1995/96, the total number of students enrolled in higher education was 2 170 300. The distribution of students in the three
cycles of
higher education breaks down into the following figures.
During this same year, the number of foreign students totalled 129 761. Some 35 944 of these students were European, 27 799
of whom came from EC countries:
These figures do not take into account students pursuing internships in the framework of EC programmes (Socrates, Leonardo
da Vinci, etc.).
I.3. Organisation of courses of study
The academic year
The academic year runs from September to July. It includes two breaks of approximately 12 days in the winter (end of
December) and in the spring (beginning of April). Universities plan their timetables independently. The specific vacations of
each institution are determined by its president.
Examinations
In the universities, in order to obtain a DEUG (BAC plus two years), a licence (BAC plus three years) or a maîtrise (BAC plus
four years) diploma, written and oral examinations must be passed. The methods of evaluation of the student’s aptitudes and
knowledge are defined in compliance with the 1984 law by the president of the university or the director of the institution,
following the notice of the Conseil des études et de la vie universitaire (CEVU: Academic and University Affairs Council).
Students are allowed to take examinations during two sessions, two months apart, generally in June and September. The
programmes, except for law and economics, are organised as modules or self-contained groups of subjects, in order to
facilitate orientation of studies, the resumption of studies and part-time studies. Once a module is passed by the student, it
does not have to be taken a second time.
In the first and second cycles, lecture courses, tutorials and practical projects in a given field make up a unité de valeur (unit)
or a module. In the third cycle, the decision to grant a diploma is not only based on the grades of the final examination, but
also on independent work and research.
In non-university institutions, a continuous assessment system or annual examinations help to evaluate the student’s progress
from the first year of study until the final diploma is awarded. If a student fails an examination, permission to re-enrol is
determined by the institution. Usually, a course of study includes an internship of about three weeks. A report or technical
project is normally part of this training. This practical part of the student’s course of study is taken into consideration in the
granting of his or her diploma.
Programmes and courses of study
Higher education is based on short-term and long-term study courses. Short-term courses last two years and long-term courses
three to eight years (minimum). University courses are divided into three successive cycles, at the end of which the student
obtains a national diploma.
(i) The first and second cycles